Motiv on the Robot Report Podcast: “Right on the Edge of Liquid Nitrogen Temperatures”

When we talk about Motiv’s COLDArm project that we’re working on with JPL, it’s easy to hear a number like -180°C, and not really understand what the cold operational temperature means.  But, in a conversation with Steve Crowe from the Robot Report podcast, Motiv’s VP of Business Development, Tom McCarthy, put it in a way that’s easy to understand:

 

“Right on the edge of liquid nitrogen temperatures.”

 

Obviously, operating robotic arms, in space, at temperatures very near those that famously shatter carnations, springs, hot dogs and apples, is a significant engineering challenge.

 

Tom and Steve dove into the details of how we’re meeting that challenge with our partners at JPL, get into some of the behind-the-scenes details on our robotic arm on the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover, the challenges of engineering space robotics during a pandemic and more.

 

Take a listen below.

• 0-1:18: Show Intro
• 1:19-26:45: Conversation with Tom McCarthy, VP of Business Development, Motiv Space Systems